WATT PoultryUSA - September 2011

Using more DDGS
in poultry feed

With increasing ethanol production, DDGS will have to be used to a greater extent by livestock and poultry producers to replace diverted corn.

BY SHEILA PURDUM, PH.D.

In 2008, U.S. production of distiller’s dried grains with solubles exceeded 23 million tons, with the U. S. poultry industry consuming about 5% of output and swine producers feeding around 20% of available DDGS. The majority of DDGS is fed to ruminants at rates of 75% to 80% of their diets.

The production of DDGS will increase in proportion to ethanol production; for the 2011 growing season, ethanol will consume 40% of the corn crop. With increasing production, DDGS will have to be used to a greater extent by livestock and poultry producers to replace diverted corn and more expensive soybean meal.

Previous research on DDGS in laying hens showed no negative effect on egg production when fed at 10% to 20% of diets. DDGS can contribute as much as

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For the 2011 growing season, ethanol will consume 40% of the corn crop, requiring livestock and poultry producers to replace diverted corn and more expensive soybean meal in diets.

one-third of the protein needs of laying
hens. The protein concentration in DDGS
is approximately three times the level in
corn due to removal of fermentable car-
bohydrate and starch. DDGS is high in
total phosphorous and nitrogen compared
to corn, and can consequently reduce the
amount of inorganic phosphorous added
to hen diets. Inclusion of DDGS does not
affect excretion of nitrogen in manure.

Table 1. Laying Hen Trial 1. Effect of Various Levels of DDGS on Egg Production Parameters for Phase 1 DDGS inclusion, Measurements 0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 S.E ggProd.(%) 92.1 89.2 90.7 89.6 91.2 91.0 1.648 FeedIntake(g/d) 109.2 110.9 110.3 108.3 108.7 109.2 1.076 HenWeight(kg) 1.54 1.57 1.54 1.55 1.53 1.54 0.0155 EggWeight(g) 60.6 60.4 60.7 60.0 58.9* 59.3* 0.4873 HaughUnit 92.42 92.04 91 92.15 92.89 92.46 0.6822 SpecificGravity 1.086 1.085 1.086 1.086 1.086 1.086 0.00045 YolkColor(Roche) 5. 6** 6. 2** 6. 3** 6. 6** 7** 7. 2** 0.05257 *p<0.1,**P<0.05 Feeding 25% DDGS to laying hens saved $20.92 and $9.92 per ton for Phase I and Phase II compared to diets devoid of DDGS.